I recently got a Stumpy 15 with Maven brakes. They are far and away the best MTB brakes I have used. The problem is my second bike (Ribble steel HT) has SRAM Level-Ts that I used to think were ok, but now they scare the s##t out of me as I can't slow down! I have tried some Galfer black pads in the front to see if that would improve matters, but its not made an appreciable difference.
Can anyone suggest the best (and most cost-effective) way of getting braking performance that at least gets closer to the Mavens? Otherwise I can see the HT just not getting any mileage which would be a shame.
cheers
Bigger rotors an obvious one, if maybe not a cheap one. Galfer green pads (or red if it's muddy/wet) do improve things also
You can get a set of Maven Base brakes for ~£200. That might be the bullet to bite, instead of the half measures.
My thought too - can you afford Maven Base!?
Was hoping not to have to get quote that spendy - £200 might be just about do-able, but cheapest I can see is c. £250 for a set.
you can get a full set of Code RSC for £150 these days
https://www.biketart.com/products/sram-code-rsc-disc-brake-set-1?variant=56700106539382
You can you still get the DB8's cheap.
Not a fan of SRAM brakes, but when I 'briefly' had a set of the DB8's they seemed pretty good.
Alternative there always seems to be a deal on Magura's at Merlin.
Other than Maven, SRAM brakes aren’t going to give you that brute force. The Code RSC is probably the next best bet and is still decent (especially if you go 220-200mm rotors) - but on outright popping your eyeballs out then you need to look elsewhere.
See if you can pickup some cheap ish 4 pot Maguras or even some Shimano Zees perhaps
Best bang for buck for a 'second bike' might be Magura MT Trail Sport. Silly cheap for the performance. They stop my 100kg on a heavy steel full-suss quicker than anything else I've tried at anywhere near that price.
You can you still get the DB8's cheap.
Not a fan of SRAM brakes, but when I 'briefly' had a set of the DB8's they seemed pretty good
My E-bike came with these. Once bled properly, with some decent pads, they perform pretty well with 100kg of me plus probably 26kg of bike on the steep trails I prefer.
I was ready to upgrade them immediately, from the things I’ve heard about SRAM brakes, but they’re fine.
TRP Trail Evos for £100 a set...
I bought some, and they're real 😁 Great brakes for a bargain price!
TRP trail evos with biggest rotors you can.
Or, MT5's with big rotors also.
Eg. https://www.evocycles.co.uk/magura-mt5-pro-disc-brake-set-incl.-203180-rotors/mpn:2702863/
I find pretty much any brake when new and bedded in will brake with enough force to put you over the bars, or lock the rear wheel on tarmac.
I used Code R's on my 28kg ebike for years without ever really thinking 'shit I can't stop'. Although I have replaced them with XT's recently as the performance was getting noticeably poor - I didn't bleed them in 7 years of ownership. The new XT's at that point we're obviously night and day better.
Currently have
HT - TRP Slate Evo
FS - outgoing model XTR
Kenevo - new model XT
Levo - Code Stealth Ultimates
I don't really think I could pick the best performer out of them tbh
Recently went from Level T’s to DB8’s on my rigid bike and they’re a huuuuge upgrade. I think they’re similar to my old zees but less on/off, which shouldn’t be mistaken for lacking in power.
£40 set of brakes from banana industries as linked above, as cheap as new pads.
At the moment I have
Slate Evo's, standard pads on the hardtail, strong but a bit wooden, I think a change of pad may sort this.
Hope E4's on the Edit, freshly bled at the moment and feel fine, nice modulation, not grabby but when the 180 rear is worn out I'll go up to 200mm.
Mavens on the Levo and I agree, on this bike they are awesome but I've had to go down to 180mm on the rear because it was way to on/off.
So for me, the Mavens would be too powerful on my hardtail but I'm only 77kg.
2 sets of ridiculously cheap Guide RE, use the hose from your Levels to run one as rear
https://share.google/3v1ixr2JSv06Gz43J
Just treat yo self and get the ones you actually want. I did this a few years ago trying pads, rotors, cheaper options and eventually I'd spent just as much as I would have had I just bought the ones I wanted in the first place... I then ended up eventually buying another set of Hope V4s anyway...
I was ready to upgrade them immediately, from the things I’ve heard about SRAM brakes, but they’re fine.
Yep, same here, modern SRAM stuff is fine, I've never once thought I needed more stopping power while using them
I hired an ebike a few weeks back, and I am a SRAM brake hater....
It had mavens, and I was really impressed.....
I have saints on my bike and like them a lot, one thing to consider, I occasionally find myself thinking that my saints are not giving 'much' power...
Its usually that the rotors are getting worn down, fresh pads help, but swapping out the rotors for new usually restores the faith.
So, cheapest option, give your current brakes a fresh bleed, new rotors and pads, see where you end up.
But I am a fan of having the same brakes on bikes, there is no adjustment when swapping between bikes, and you have the same pads.
Unfortunately in our house we still seem to have ended up with,
Saints
XT 4 pots
Codes
SLX 2 pots
.... so practice what you preach and all...
My 25.5kg ebike came fitted with SRAM DB8s and I'm less than impressed, wth the stock resin pads they were rubbish.
Better with Uberbike Ebike Kevlar pads and a bleed but still not as confidence inspiring as I would like.
They are however not as powerful as the Mavens on my mates similar weight ebike 😕
Deore 4-pots?
Shimano Deore M6100 / M6120 Front And Rear Disc Brake Set | Merlin Cycles
2nd hand saints?
Cheers for all of these responses - lots of useful info, much appreciated
lol. I have no really intelligent advice to offer, but I thought my SRAM levels were fine (they were fine?) until I bought a new bike with Mavens. Now, when I ride the bike with the levels. I genuinely think im going to die, because I can’t stop in time! So I sympathise.
For the record, I put Magura MT5’s on the other bike, and they’re good (and cheap).
The Maguras are good brakes too. I tried a mates bike with them on and was impressed.
Imo not much between them and the TRPs, though I like the 2.3mm rotors on the TRPs - not had any rotir rubbing/warping since switching to 2.3 rotors a year or so back.
Fyi - the only issue with the TRPs is the lever adjustment range - the position closest to the bars is still a bit far out for some people. Personally I find it spot on, but if you're someone who likes the lever to come right to the bars (weirdos!) then they're probably not for you.
I find it difficult to look past the Shimano 4 pot offerings for value and ease of maintenance and swapping bits around. Just so easy to bleed and you can frequently get spares at silly cheap prices.
Currently run XT’s, some of the Shimano 4 pots above, the new Magura Louise Elite, Curas and some of the cheaper Shimano 4 pots on my daughters bikes as she loves the big levers and brake feel! Out of that lot, any of the Shimano 4 pots would be my choice 🙂
I do have a strong dislike of brakes that don’t use mineral oil, are fussy to bleed and aren’t really easy to centre rub free on the rotor!
I've been an Avid then SRAM fanboi for 20+ years now since using Juicy's for the first time. They could be a PITA to bleed and even change pads, but I persevered for the performance feel over Shimano.
Anyway, I've just ordered a new bike with SLX 4 pots and I'm curious whether I'll get on with them. Shimano brakes (the levers) feel nice in the shop but I've never been blown away. They might appear in the classifieds soon!
Erm, probably won't be seen in time, but there's a set of Maven Base brakes ending at 11am today on ebay. £156 currently - 0 bids
I do have a strong dislike of brakes that don’t use mineral oil, are fussy to bleed and aren’t really easy to centre rub free on the rotor!
You'd love Mavens then... all that, PLUS loads more power!
Those Base sold for £156 full set. Someone got a bargain 🙂
I find it difficult to look past the Shimano 4 pot offerings for value and ease of maintenance and swapping bits around. Just so easy to bleed and you can frequently get spares at silly cheap price
They are good fo'shure and by far the best brakes I've used are Saints without a doubt. But SRAM - while you can't really gravity bleed them, do have a system that pretty much idiot proof - I'm living evidence of that once you get into actually doing maintenance on them. Mineral oil isn't really difficult to deal with, and buying SRAM brakes with bleeding edge ports makes the whole thing drip free anyway. Parts are just as cheap.
I'd happily use either Big S on my bike
I've been an Avid then SRAM fanboi for 20+ years now since using Juicy's for the first time. They could be a PITA to bleed and even change pads, but I persevered for the performance feel over Shimano.
Anyway, I've just ordered a new bike with SLX 4 pots and I'm curious whether I'll get on with them. Shimano brakes (the levers) feel nice in the shop but I've never been blown away. They might appear in the classifieds soon!
I always found SRAM brakes to be OK when they worked, it's the absolute inevitability of them eventually not working that was the problem.
